Halloween Security Tips for Parents
We all love to celebrate Halloween, but we need you and your family safe too! Halloween can be a really dangerous day for children.
Halloween is all about candy, but we’ll not sugar-coat it for you.
On Halloween, kids are three times more likely to get hit by a car than at any other time of year!
The dangers of Halloween can be seen in the number of roads where children are much more likely than adults to get hit by cars.
The most dangerous day for them is October 31st and this holiday has a lot less candy than other days!
Halloween is a great time to dress up in costumes and have fun but it’s important that you take precautions too. From being injured by costume or getting lost because they’re trick-or-treating alone, October 31st can be downright scary for children and their families!
And that’s not all! There is always the chance you’ll end up physically hurt when wearing one of these costumes so ensure safety first before going out with friends no matter what age group.
From being injured by a costume to getting lost because they are trick or treating alone, October 31st is full of danger for many families.
Too Many Parents Don’t Take Halloween Safety Seriously
Unfortunately, parents aren’t doing enough of helping children stay safe. Just take a look at these alarming Halloween safety stats:
- 70 percent of parents let their children trick-or-treat alone
- 82 percent of parents don’t include any visibility markings on their kids’ costumes
- 65 percent of parents fail to review Halloween safety tips for parents and kids before they head out
- 63 percent of kids don’t carry a flashlight for safe trick or treating at night
The Most Common Halloween Injuries to Watch Out For
“The most common Halloween injuries we see are severe hand injuries from pumpkin carving and leg and extremity injuries due to falls from long costumes and/or costumes that impair vision,”
*noted the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons spokesperson Kevin G. Shea, MD.
But those aren’t the only injuries you and your kids could face if you don’t follow basic trick-or-treat rules.
Others include:
- Burns due to costumes that aren’t flame retardant
- Dehydration from being out too long and not drinking enough water
- Eye injuries related to bad makeup or faulty contacts
- Trips and falls from long costumes
- Car accidents
So what can you do to avoid becoming another Halloween statistic?
Turns out, there are plenty parents can do to keep their kids safe on Halloween night.
How to Trick or Treat Safely
Choose a Costume That Gets You Noticed
No, we don’t mean one that’ll have people talking. Yes, that’s always the goal.
Each year, on Halloween night the roads are full of children in costumes running from house to house trying to give out treats. But by “get noticed”, we mean being visible so drivers know children are trick-or-treating and to watch out for them.
One important safety tip for kids is to make sure you stay close together as groups go across busy intersections.
When it’s time to go out on the road, consider dressing your kids in bright colors that will make them easier for drivers to see.
You can also attach reflective tape or strips of cloth (like denim) onto their shoes and clothes so they’re even more visible during night hours when visibility becomes an issue.
Kids should wear bright colors or reflective tape to make drivers more aware of their presence. They can also try wearing dark clothes with accessories like shoes that glow in the dark so they stand out on roadways at night time!
Kids can never be too safe.
Prevent them from getting into trouble on holidays.
Choose the Right Face Mask
When your child wants to wear a costume with the mask, make sure it’s not too tight around their face and can still see clearly. Make sure your child wears a mask that doesn’t restrict their peripheral vision.
Some masks are made of materials that don’t allow enough light through so they may find themselves in danger on Halloween night- especially when walking across streets where drivers might not notice them
Using Face Paint? Make Sure it’s Safe
Not all face paint is created equal. In fact, some can cause skin irritation, rashes, or worse. Always buy face paint from a reputable source.
While we aren’t suggesting dollar store-safe paint is completely off the table, we recommend doing some research on its source if you plan to buy some. Usually, when it comes to cosmetics, perfumes, makeup, and similar products, if it’s cheap, it’s not going to be incredible.
When it comes to face paint, some can be better than others. For example; if you want a product that won’t irritate your skin or uses harmful chemicals then we recommend looking for reputable brands which offer high-quality products at affordable prices.
It’s a good idea to do some research on the source of face paint before you buy it. You don’t want any negative reactions from your skin, like irritation or worse!
From what we’ve seen in our tests with other products such as perfumes and makeup kits at low prices tends not always mean they’re high quality either – so make sure that whatever product gets selected will be worth spending money upon.
Shilpa Register, O.D., Ph.D., of UAB Callahan Eye Hospital, agrees and offers these Halloween tips for parents:
“Costume makeup has become trendy in recent years, but remember to test it on a small spot first to confirm there are no allergic reactions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends makeup rather than masks, which can block the child’s vision. Also, all too often we see patients who purchase decorative contact lenses at beauty shops or gas stations, which can result in eye injuries or even blindness.”
Don’t Let Them Trick or Treat Too Late
There’s nothing like the joy of trick-or-treating on Halloween. But as evening falls and fewer children are around, it can be tempting for parents to make their little ones go home earlier so they don’t get too tired before starting their adventure later in the night.
There are fewer kids on the street after Halloween when it gets late. If your child will be heading out early to get their candy, they can collect plenty and not worry about being idle later in the night which might not have any treats left for them.
Don’t Let Them Eat Candy Until They Arrive Home
It’s always a good idea to inspect their candy before they eat it. So if they’re out there and tempted to dip into their bag for a little energy boost, urge them not to do so until each piece of candy can be inspected. They need to know candy can contain drugs, medications, objects, and other alarming items.
It’s important to make sure children know the dangers of taking candy from strangers. Candy that appears to be tampered with can be deadly. And in the dark, especially if you’re wearing a mask, it’s hard to catch the hidden dangers.
Use a GPS tracker
If your kids are at the age where they don’t want you trick or treating with them, it’s OK to give them a little freedom. It’s also OK to feel a little bit scared. If you’re a worrier, consider following your child as they roam the neighborhood in search of candy — with a little help.
However, if you are a worrier and feel like your child won’t be able to stay safe on their own outside of the house, then it is best for them not to go out alone at all. It can also help parents have more control over where they wander around in search of candy by following closely to an individual or another person who has experience walking children through neighborhoods safely.
mSpy, one of the most popular parental control apps on the market that’s built around Halloween safety for kids, includes GPS tracking, so you can find out where your kids are just by looking at a map.
Using a tracker or a monitor like mSpy is the smart way parents can ensure their family’s safety and have peace of mind.
Parents are responsible for their children. And yes, parents are entitled to spy on their kids to maintain their safety.
It also lets you create restricted zones, and alerts you if your child enters that zone. So if your child ends up on a street that they shouldn’t be on (or if they leave the neighborhood completely to go to a party) you’ll know about it.
You Can Never Be Too Safe, Especially on Halloween
Halloween is a time to be creative, have fun and enjoy being scared. But it can also take shape as one big party with too many distractions for kids’ safety – which means you need our trick-or-treat safety guidelines.
Remember that these aren’t just suggestions on how not only keep your own children safe while going door-to-door at night but other people’s pets who might wander off during all this excitement too (don’t worry though they’re usually happy enough once their favorite candy has been found).
There will always be something delicious around every corner so long as we use some common sense when navigating neighborhood streets.
Halloween this year might feel a little different, but by following our trick-or-treat safety guidelines, you can make it memorable and safe. And remember, it’s not about picking or choosing one safe trick-or-treating tip over another. Layering these tips will go a long way to help you keep them safe.